Two companies that appear to have little in common have joined forces to
build processing plants that will convert biomass to energy and create organic
fertilizer at the same time. The plants will burn the waste to produce steam
that can power electric generators. The leftover residue can be sold as
fertilizer.
The partners are DukeSolutions, one of the fast States, and Harmony Products, which specializes in the development and manufacture of fertilizer. Their joint venture was planned to make productive use of the waste stream from large Virginia poultry farms located in the Chesapeake watershed.
The plants will process 100,000 tons of litter annually, which will produce enough energy to heat 15,000 homes. The resulting organic fertilizer will increase crop yields, which will in turn feed the animals whose wastes are then gasified to produce energyÃ?and of course more fertilizer.
Other advantages include reduced runoff into nearby lakes and streams from the huge poultry producers. And, the gasification technology used to turn waste into energy virtually eliminates emissions.
One processing plant is currently under construction in Harrisonburg, Va., and three others are in the planning stages. Eventually, DukeSolutions and Harmony plan to run 200 processing plants worldwide. They are already working on adaptations that will allow the plants to use other animal waste as well as industrial wastewater sludge. These waste-to-energy systems will provide a string of environmental benefits including clean, efficient energy, reduction in agricultural runoff, and organic fertilizers.
Environmental News Service 
Founded 30 years ago in Bozeman, Montana, PERC—the Property and Environment Research Center—is the nation’s oldest and largest institute dedicated to improving environmental quality through property rights and markets.
PERC’s publications, each designed to resonate with specific groups, move ideas generated at PERC to broader audiences.
Research is at the heart of PERC's work, with a focus on the question: What is the link between economic growth and environmental quality?
The goal of PERC’s programs is to fully realize the vision of establishing “PERC University,” where scholars, students, policy makers, and others convene to expand the applications of free market environmentalism.
PERC's fellowships share a common goal of exposing new scholars, students, journalists, and policy makers to free market environmentalism, as well as enable scholars already familiar with FME to explore new applications.
PERC continues to publish and present a broad range of research and discussion through podcasts, videos, and other multimedia channels.